If you are now represented by a label, congrats! Unfortunately, this means you are ineligible to receive any of the Play It Strange prizes.
No, your song needs to be a new original song that hasn't already been recorded professionally. If it is already on streaming platforms, the prize will be waived.
Yes, but we would recommend checking with the rules of other organisations.
No, if you choose to submit to more than one competition, your song for each comp must be different. However, if you entered the Junior Songwriting Competition and you were told you are not a finalist, then feel free to rework the song to enter it into one of the other competitions.
No, the use of artifical intelligence (AI) tools in the creation of the song and/or recording, in any capacity, is strictly prohibited. This might include AI generated lyrics, chord progressions, structures, melodies, backing tracks, and/or instrumental/vocal parts.
Entries identified as containing AI generated or AI assisted content will be disqualified.
No, you can use a mix of Te Reo and any other language in your song.
No, you can only submit one song to each competition.
Yes, any language you like! In fact, we highly encourage you to write lyrics in different languages. Make sure to submit a copy of your lyrics as well as the English translation in your entry form.
If your song uses Te Reo Māori, you can enter it into the Waiata Māori competition.
Either is completely fine! You can be a duo, trio, four-piece band, solo artist or anything you like.
You can record your song in whatever way is most accessible to you. The quality of your recording is not taken into account in the judging process.
Yes! You will need to list all writers on the entry form. All writers must be at secondary school, or aged 17 and under.
Yes, the song can be performed/sung by anyone who is secondary school aged, provided the performer isn't a professional artist.
If you are a finalist and chose to sing your song when you submitted it, but want someone else to sing it in the studio on your recording, that’s completely fine, as long as they're secondary school aged.
All you need to do is fill out the free online form, upload an MP3 or WAV file of your song, copy and paste your lyrics, and your song will be submitted – easy as!
If you are in secondary school between Years 9-13, you can enter any of our competitions! The Junior Competition is just for Years 9-11.
If you are no longer in high school, but still aged 17 and under, you can enter our competitions.
No, all of our competitions are free to enter! If you would like to receive feedback on your song, you can choose to pay $10 when you submit.
Approximately 3-4 weeks after the competition closing date.
You will be emailed instructions on how to book your recording studio session. Please follow all instructions that get sent to you.
If you haven't received instructions via email from us, please get in touch with us at info@playitstrange.org.nz
You are required to complete your recording session within 3 months of being notified as a finalist. If you are not able to reach this deadline, please get in touch with us at info@playitstrange.org.nz
No, you will need to wait for us to release the song on an album.
As soon as we receive all of the recordings, we can finish the album and release it for you. This is why we ask you to record them as soon as possible within your three month recording window. Once the album is released feel free to do as much promo about your song as you like.
After the initial release, you can 're-release' the single to choose your own cover art and organise your own release process. We encourage you to do this to make the most of the opportunity, but there are some important things to keep in mind! If you would like more info on how to do this, get in touch with us at info@playitstrange.org.nz
Yes, when we release your song, we will link it to your existing artist profile or create a new one for you if one doesn’t exist. If you already have an artist profile, please send it to us after your session so we can link it to the right account.
When the song is released, you are responsible for logging into your profile as the artist and changing any profile details (ie. photos, bio etc). You can do that here: https://artists.spotify.com/claim
Only a name will be listed on Bandcamp and cannot be linked to any artist profile. If you have any questions or queries, please contact us at info@playitstrange.org.nz
Yes, the publishing and master rights and ownership of the songs will remain with the composers. The songwriter/s grant Play It Strange a non-exclusive, royalty free license to use the song and the recording for Play It Strange activites.
Any master royalties made by the songs will go into funding future Play It Strange finalist recordings. This license does not affect the songwriters' entitlement to receive performance and mechanical royalties through collection societies such as APRA AMCOS.
No, the cover art for the digital album your song is released onto comes from the four winners from our Strange Album Art Competition. This is open to secondary students in Aotearoa.
If you're an artist, feel free to enter this competition for a chance to win!
Distributes licence fees to songwriters, composers, and publishers so that artists can earn royalties when their music is used.
NZ’s biggest and most experienced digital distributors and digital rights managers for artists to share their content on all major platforms.
IMNZ celebrates, educates, and advocates for independent artists, managers, publishers, record labels, and distributors by giving them a voice, celebrating them in charts and awards, and providing them with opportunities for development.
Education, networking opportunities, and advocacy for music managers and self-managed artists.
Resources and advocacy to support the NZ production community, offering production advice and networking opportunities to enable producers to sustain long-term careers.
Provide music projects to change the lives of Kiwis in need, as well as emergency assistance, support services, and professional counselling to people in music experiencing hardship or illness.
A free online community to stay up to date on NZ music news. Their online directory has links for everything you can imagine; events, festivals, awards, funding, music education, photography/videography, venues, radio, publicity, record labels and more!
A government funded organisation that promotes and supports the NZ music culture and economy through amazing resources, upskilling tools, and the Industry Internship Programme to help kickstart careers.
Supports the recording and promotion of single songs and multi-song projects that reflect Aotearoa and have the potential to reach significant broadcast and online audiences.
Act on behalf of right holders to license music users and collect revenues to distribute to recording artists. They promote and celebrate recording artists through the Aotearoa Music Awards, the Official Aotearoa Music Charts, and the Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa | NZ Music Hall of Fame.
A free and confidential service for anyone affected by sexual harm in Aotearoa’s music community.
Resources, support, and initiatives to create an inclusive and respectful music community safe from discrimination, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, and violence.
Customise your artist profile, track your streams and gain audience insights.
.jpg)
.jpg)
